Todays Newsbites

An observational study published in the journal Neurology found that engaging in mentally stimulating activities in later life was associated with lower risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is characterized by symptoms such as forgetfulness, feeling overwhelmed by decision making, and difficulty following conversations or maintaining a train of thought. It does not significantly affect daily life and activities and will not always progress to dementia.

Q. Youve said that charred meats may raise cancer risk. Should I skip grilling?

More Americans are meeting recommended physical activity guidelines, but we still have a long way to go. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 24 percent of U.S. adults met the combined aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines in 2017, up from 18 percent in 2008. People who live in urban areas are more likely to meet physical activity guidelines (25 percent) than those in rural areas (20 percent), and no changes were reported among Hispanics and adults living in the South.

According to a recent British study published in the journal Scientific Reports, spending at least two hours a week outside may be good for ones health. Nearly 20,000 English people were asked how many hours they spent in natural environments like parks, forests, and beaches in the last seven days; whether they considered their health to be good or poor; and if they felt their well-being was high or low. Those reporting nature contact of at least two hours per week were significantly more likely to report good health and high well-being compared to those reporting zero. (No additional benefit was seen from spending over 3.5 to 5 hours in nature.)

A study recently published in the American Diabetes Associations journal, Diabetes Care, suggests that high night-to-night differences in sleep schedules may be associated with higher risk of having metabolic syndrome (a cluster of health problems-including high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, high blood sugar levels, and/or excess body fat around the waist-that increase risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes). The study assessed nighttime movements and sleep-wake cycles of over 2,000 participants for one week using home-based sleep studies.

A study from Tufts University researchers recently published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that Americans are not cutting back on processed meat intake, despite the suggested health dangers of consumption. The study characterized trends in consumption of processed meats, unprocessed red meat, poultry, and fish/shellfish in nearly 44,000 U.S. adults in the past 18 years. Red meat consumption declined over that period. Poultry consumption increased, and fish/shellfish intake remained constant.

Image © Waldemarus | Getty Images The FDA recently unveiled the Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List, designed to alert consumers to unlawful ingredients identified in...

A prospective cohort study recently published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that a self-reported brisk walking pace was associated with longer life expectancy...

The intake of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) like sodas, sweetened teas, and fruit drinks has consistently been associated with elevated risk of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and body weight. A new research study published in the journal Circulation provides strong prospective data that SSB intake is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, with greater risk with a higher number of SSBs consumed.

A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that energy drinks can cause abnormal heart electrical activity and increase blood pressure. Forty healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 40 were given two unmarked 16-ounce bottles of different commercially available caffeinated energy drinks or a placebo drink on three separate days and were instructed to consume them within a 60-minute period.